Sitka spruce

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Sitka spruce

Photo and data from Forest World

Common Names

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Coast spruce

Silver spruce

Sitka spruce

Spruce

Tideland spruce

Yellow spruce

Common Uses

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Paneling

Siding

Beams

Building materials

Cabin construction

Decks

Exterior trim & siding

Framing

Heavy construction

Interior construction

Joists

Light construction

Porch columns

Rough construction

Utility poles

Wainscotting

Species Distribution

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REGIONS:

North America

COUNTRIES:

Canada

United States

Physical and Environmental Profile

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Environmental Profile

The species is regarded as rather widespread,
abundant, and secure globally, though it may be quite rare in
parts of its range, especially at the periphery
(Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endagerment based primarily
on the number of occurrences of the species globally).

Distribution

Sitka spruce is reported to occur in
British Columbia, Yukon Territory, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington.
  It grows in coastal forests in the fog belt,
which is a narrow strip containing high rainfall and cool climate,
and is reported to be usually found in pure stands and in association with
Western hemlock at elevations of up to
3000 feet (914 m) in Alaska,
and below 1200 feet (366 m) in California.

Product Sources

Some material from this species is reported to be available from
sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible sources.  

Sitka spruce is reported to be capable of
producing large volumes of clear,
straight-grained lumber because of its size.
 The wood is reported to be sometimes sold in a mixture with White spruce,
True firs, and other softwoods which makes it rather difficult to isolate commercially.
 Material for musical instruments is reported to have a market of its own,
and the selection process is reported to be highly specialized.
 Sitka spruce is reported to be the primary source of timber in Alaska.

Tree Data

Sitka spruce is reported to be vigorous and
fast-growing and is considered to be the world's largest spruce.
 The tree is described as tall, reaching heights of
125 to 175 feet (38 to 53 m),
with a straight trunk that is reported to yield considerable amounts of clear lumber.
 The diameter of the trunk is usually 36 to 72 inches (90 to 180 cm) above buttresses,
but may be as large as 84 inches (213 cm).
The largest recorded is reported to be 168 inches (416 cm)
in the state of Washington.
 Forest-grown trees are, however, smaller.

Sapwood Color

The sapwood is creamy-white to light yellow and merges gradually into the heartwood.

Heartwood Color

The heartwood is pinkish, or light pinkish yellow to pale brown with a purplish cast.
The color darkens upon exposure to silvery brown with a faint tinge of red.

Grain

Grain is typically straight and even,
and the timber is reported to be frequently dimpled on
tangential surfaces.

Texture

Texture is described as even to medium.
The distinct annual rings are reported to be an important feature
when quartersawing soundboards for musical instruments.   

Luster

Wood surfaces are reported to be somewhat lustrous.

Natural Durability

Sitka spruce has little resistance to decay and
should not be used under high decay hazard conditions without
some form of chemical protection.  
Standing trees are reported to be vulnerable to blowdowns,
as well as attack by insects, disease organisms and animals.

Cutting Resistance

Cutting resistance is reported to be rather small.

Blunting Effect

The wood has little blunting effect on cutting tools.

Planing

Sitka spruce is reported to have very good planing properties,
and is rated as one of the easiest woods to cut.

Turning

The wood is reported to turn very well,
especially old growth knot-free stock.

Moulding

Moulding characteristics are rated as very good.

Boring

The material is reported to respond very well to boring.

Mortising

The wood is reported to have very good mortising characteristics.

Nailing

Resistance to splitting in nailing operations is reported to be excellent,
and nail-holding properties are good.

Screwing

Screwing properties are rated as excellent,
and screw-holding qualities are good.

Gluing

Gluing characteristics are rated as excellent.

Sanding

Sanding characteristics are reported to be rather good.

Polishing

The material is reported to have good polishing properties.

Staining

The material is reported to have good staining properties.

Varnishing

The wood has good varnishing characteristics.

Painting

Painting characteristics are reported to be satisfactory.

Steam Bending

The wood has good steam bending properties.

Response to Hand Tools

Wood from fast-grown trees is reported to require
very sharp cutting edges to avoid tearing of earlywood bands.
 The timber is, however, generally easy to work with hand tools in most operations.

Strength Properties

Sitka spruce is reported to have one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios.
 Bending strength is in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) medium.
It has medium compression strength parallel to grain.
The wood is soft, and surfaces may dent easily.
Weight is moderate, and density is average, or medium.
Its natural resonance qualities make Sitka spruce an
ideal choice for musical instrument soundboards.

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Reference Sources

Numerical Data Source

USDA. 1987.
Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material,
Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72,
Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Descriptive Data Source

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980.
Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition.
McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources.
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Canadian Forestry Service. 1981.
 Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses.
Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors.
Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada.

Jackson, A. and D. Day.  1991.
 Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood.
 Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988.
Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical.
United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57,
Madison, Wisconsin.

Western Wood Products Association.
 19__.  Softwoods of the Western USA.
 Published and Distributed by the Western Wood Products Association,
Yeon Building, 522 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

Little, E.L.  1980.
 The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region.
 Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.

USDA. 1988.
Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service,
Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Flynn Jr., J.H. 1993.
Picea sitchensis - Sitka spruce.
In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor.
King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 265-266.

Cypress Woodworks/2001

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